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Mark Butler · 04-02-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Steinberg

You know, I actually liked this last episode a lot. The last two actually. They weren't perfect, but certainly miles above, say, Pete chewing Kryptogum.

I certainly agree that the last episode was much better than the chewing gum episode. But so what, what was it you liked about it? Just because something isn't as bad as usual doesn't necessarily mean you have to accept it as thats as good as it gets. I don't expect perfection in Smallville, but I do expect consistent characterization, likeable characters (evil or not), and coherent plotting. Plot points that should be followed like the Phantom Zoners are dropped, characters motivations are constantly changing with no visible reason, plot points are dropped in from out of the blue with no relation to anything that has come before, and I could go on. The producers have had 7 years to get the show right, that is three or four more years than most shows get. The reason this show has the limited success it does is because it is trading on the Superman name, with expectations of certain growth in characterizations and plot. As it stands now Clark is less of a hero than he was in season 1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Steinberg

The overriding theme of this season seems to be about Clark turning his back on his destiny, not yet willing or able to accept his role in the bigger picture... I actually find something very poignant, something very captivating in Clark turning his back on the world.

That has been the overriding theme of the last 3 seasons, since the krypton stones when Jor-el had to turn Clark into Kal-el because he was once again ignoring what he had to do. Has Clark progressed as a character since then, has the realization come that the best way to protect the people he cares about is to be a hero and not hideaway playing pattycake with Lana? No, He has become a shell of the boy that saved Lex on the bridge and a sad pathetic person incapable of making his own decisions and relying on others (Chloe, Bruce Wa...Sorry, Oliver Queen, and in this season Lana Lang) to push him and help him. The funniest thing this season was when Bizzaro-Clark figures out that Brainiac was back, the look of surprise on Chloe's face that Clark figured it out on his own was hilarious. The big dumb alien thing is a running gag now.